Film/Video and Photographic Arts at Mount Saint Mary's University

Mount Saint Mary's film program graduates earn slightly more than typical California film school grads—about $30,000 four years out versus a state median of $24,840. That places this program in the 60th percentile statewide, which means it's performing better than most film programs in a state packed with film schools. The $27,000 debt load is manageable relative to first-year earnings, with a 1.05 ratio that's actually quite favorable for arts programs, where debt often exceeds early earnings by a wider margin.

The challenge here is context: we're talking about small numbers either way. While this program outperforms many peers, it still trails USC ($34,000), Chapman ($36,000), and even UCLA ($30,000) four years out. The 17% earnings growth from year one to year four is encouraging—it suggests graduates are finding traction in the industry—but you're still looking at roughly $30,000 annual income four years after graduation.

For families where a $27,000 debt load is manageable, this represents a relatively safe entry into film careers, particularly if your student values Mount Saint Mary's smaller community (55% of students receive Pell grants, suggesting strong financial aid). Just keep expectations realistic: this isn't a fast track to high earnings, but the debt picture is reasonable enough that graduates have breathing room to build their careers without being crushed by payments.